Australian news, and some related international items

Investigative journalists – they do exist in the mainstream media, but they are now more likely to be found in Independent media

Mark Willacy – ABC reporter in North East Asia. (Yes, a mainstream journalist!) Willacy has given the most up to date, authentic news from Japan over the past year. (how long will they let him spill all these beans?)

Indymedia, the Independent Media Centre “is a network of collectively run media outlets for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of the truth.” Alternet is news-magazine and online community that challenges the right wing media in the United States.

OneWorld.net brings together the latest news and views from over 1,600 organizations promoting human rights awareness and fighting poverty worldwide.

Community Broadcasting Online provides background information and links to Australian community radio and television. Alternative Radio is a source for public affairs programming which is made available without charge to all public radio stations.

Global Voices Online scans the international community of bloggers to bring attention to news that otherwise might go unseen.

What could be more alternative than “good” news in the media! The Good News Agency relates voluntary work, the United Nations, NGO’s and other institutions engaged in improving the quality of life.

The Internet provides the opportunity for alternative and independent news. Mainstream corporate media clearly has its bias, – best evidenced in the issues that it DOESN’T COVER, but also in its role as corporate (or government) mouthpiece, and in its focus on (saleable) trivia and sensationalism.

Alternative media has its biases, too – all media comes from some opinion base. But bias does not mean that the information is false or worthless.

It’s’ always necessary to assess alternative media items, too – Does it make sense?, Does it use inflammatory or extreme language? Does it quote reputable sources? What’s in it for whom?

There are so many independent websites and blogs. On scrutiny, we can assess their credibility, and their bias. Very often, the bias is a passion for revealing the truth.

This same passion can show in mainstream media, too, and those news/information services deserve credit

1.This month

Read summaries of submissions to the Senate, re the Selection process for a national radioactive waste management facility in South Australia. Each summary has a link to the full submission. Obviously the Department of Industry Innovation and Science (DIIS) was not happy with the majority of submissions opposing the process, so now are trying to get a better (for them) result

SUBMISSIONS CALLED FOR – about “Broad Community Support” for a nuclear waste dump in Kimba or Hawker, South Australia

The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science wants submissions between 1 August and 24 September 2018. People can resend the submissions already sent to the Senate Inquiry. Submissions to the department will only be made public where permission is provided.

See our page: Submissions on Radioactive Waste Code 2018/ Submissions published by ARPANSA are overwhelmingly critical, and in opposition to the Federal nuclear dump plan for rural South Australia. [not to be confused with the current SENATE INQUIRY Selection process for a national radioactive waste management facility in South Australia.]